46 - Wednesday, August 8, 1990 - spotlight now | North Shore News Actor horses around with new TV series ICHELE GOODGER is a hard-working actor. But these days she spends a lot of her time horsing around. The 32-year-old, black-haired blue-eyed West Vancouver actor has landed herself.a plum role as Alec Ramsey’s mother in the new TV series The Adventures of the Black Stallion, based on Walter Farley’s classic novel, The Black Staflion. “It’s been very fast-paced, in- tense work,” says an animated Goodger during a day off the set. “Working with animals is quite difficult — horses don’t always do what you want them to the first time.” Actually, Goodger thought she had lost the role after two weeks had gone by without hearing a word from the casting agent. She thought she was tao young for the part, but the casting agents ob- viously disagreed. The immediate rapport she es- tablished with Richard Cox, who plays Ramsey, the boy who owns the stallion, was undoubtedly a determining factor in her clinching the role, she believes. And she credits the vitality of her performance as Belle (played by Terri Garr in the film version of The Black Stallion), whom she describes as ‘‘your regular TV mom — understanding and kind of hip.” Whatever the reason, the mother of two believes the part came at a particularly good time. “lL was very ready for it,” she enthuses, “| couldn’t have done this six months ago because | wasn’t as well-grounded and emo- tionally Ewasn’t ready. Now, ve got More of 4 CONSCIOUS awareness EVELYN JACOB spotlight feature of my acting, and that’s helped me utilize my real feelings. An enor- mous sense of freedom comes from that.” A co-production between the Canadian Alliance Entertainment Corporation and France’s Atlanti- que, the series is due out on YTV in Canada and on the Family Channel in the U.S. this fall. Goodger, a former Sentinel and University of Alberta BFA grad, says she developed a love for ac- ting as early as Grade 6. But it was TV and film — not the stage — that proved to be her real love. Today she has racked up a lengthy list of screen credits: six feature films, including Cousins and The Accused, and appear- ances on nine TV series and five made-for-TV movies. Says Geodger: ‘I enjoy the in- timacy of TV and film. On stage | was always projecting my emo- tions, but for me, that projection didn’t come naturally. With the camera there’s a real intimacy — you don't have to project, Or coune Limass the instant response you get with the theatre — in tilm you don’t Know what theyre to ing ta do to your pertormance in the editing room.” One memorable stage credit is The Vancouver Playhouse’s pro- duction of Servant at Two Masters, in which local comic actor Nicola Cavendish played her servant. But ask her about her tirst pro- tessional theatre job and she crang- es, Goodger suffered every ac- tor’s worst nightmare when, on opening night of a City Stage work tthe title of which she has conve- niently blatted fram her memory), she forgot the name of the charac- ter she was playing. “lH was crazy. The lead left all ofa sudden and ! came into the role just a week after graduation. | felt terri- ble, everyone on stage was look- ing at me. But ¢ pulled it off.”’ One of her favorite film experi- ences was working on Cousins with Isabella Rossalini and Ted Danson. Goodger played Rossalini’s sister. Isabella was a beautiful per- son to work with. I spent a lot of time with her, going for walks in Stanley Park, to get a sister rapport going.” Unfortunately, her fear of being edited out came true. Most of her scenes with Rossalini ended up on the cutting room floor. That isn’t about to happen with her own series. Goodger is looking forward to developing her charac- ter and to the exposure the show will bring her. She’s hoping to use it as a stepping stone to larger roles in feature films. And co-starring with Mickey WV library sponsors writing contest NORTH SHORE residents aged 12-18 are invited to enter the West Vancouver Memorial Library's Young Adults Writing Contest. “There are many creative teens on the North Shore and we want them to have the fun, challenge and rewards that a writing contest offers,’’ said librarian Cate McNeely. Applicants should submit prepared. PICTURE PERFECT Picture a Restaurant that’s just made for celebrating, where people gather to eat and have a good time, where the service is friendly and the food beautifully Then picture this Restaurant in your own backyard and just a phone call 1,000-2,000 words on any subject to one of two age categories: 12- 14 years and 15-18 years. Entry forms must be submitted by Mon- day, Aug. 27, and stories by Mon- day, Sept. 24. Entry forms and contest rules are available from the library at 1950 Marine Drive. Entrants can also take advantage of a midsummer writer's workshop with Kit Pear- son, prize-winning author of The away. Sound like a dream? The dream comes true every night. edna 926-8922 445-13th Street West Vancouver § Sky is Falling, A Handtul of Time and The Daring Game. For information phone 3291, local 251. 926- The Real Good taste of Wine and Beer ... .. With LESS THAN 0 h ALCOHOL Featuring: F x COLO DE-ALCOHOLIZED | — BEERS by Becks, Heineken, Miller, Anheuser-Busch & Guinness 3 = WINES from Germany, California & weals COOLERS % CIDERS 1690 Robson St. (at Bidwell) 882. 6335 — News photo ake Waketield MICHELE GOODGER has fanded herself a plum role in the new TV series The Adventures of the Black Stallion. I've learned a lot from him. Someone said to me on the set the other day, ‘he’s (Rooney) forgot- ten more than most of us will ever know about acting.””’ Rooney, who played trainer Henry Dailey in the 1979 movie, is a great “learning experience,”’ she says. “tHe has so much experience, 926-4913 ls RESTAUAANT — ‘a second } ‘pair FREE! op 10 6150 vatse CONTACT LENS CENTRE Pemberton Plaza (next to Save-On-Foods) Open Monday-Saturday 984-3434 9 locations to serve you in the lower mainland